The Philadelphia Eagles announced late Friday that they have agreed to terms with DE Marco Coleman on a one-year contract. As is club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.
DE Derrick Burgess tore the Achilles tendon in his left leg in today?s practice and will miss the entire 2003 season. He will require surgery and will be placed on the Injured Reserve list.
"It's a shame, because he's worked so hard to get himself back,? said head coach Andy Reid of Burgess? injury. ?He's become such a big part of the team. He feels like he let the team down and that's obviously not the case. He gave it all he had. Just a bad thing happened and we just wish him the best of luck getting himself back."
Coleman (6-3, 270), a Pro Bowl selection in 2000 while with the Redskins, spent the 2003 training camp with Jacksonville after starting all 16 games for the Jaguars in 2002. He recorded five sacks and 54 tackles with Jacksonville last season. Coleman has recorded 61.5 sacks during stints with four different teams in 11 NFL seasons.
"We're bringing in a veteran player who has been very successful in the National Football League,? said Reid of agreeing to terms with Coleman. ?He's been one of the top defensive ends in the league for many years. He has a great relationship with some of the players on this team, and also with Tom Heckert (Vice President of Player Personnel who was with Miami when Coleman played there). He's a great person on top of all of his accomplishments on the field."
Said Reid when asked if Coleman would play this Monday night, ?We'll see how he is. He went through the whole preseason and played, so he's in football shape."
An extremely durable player, Coleman has missed just five games in his entire career. He has also started all but two of the 171 games he has appeared in. Originally, Coleman was selected by Miami with their second pick in the first round of the 1992 draft. The Dolphins used their first choice that year on current Eagles CB Troy Vincent. That season, Coleman went on to be named NFL Rookie of the Year by Sports Illustrated.
After spending four seasons in Miami, Coleman was signed by San Diego in 1996 as a transition free agent after the Dolphins did not match an offer sheet. He remained with the Chargers through the 1998 season. Coleman was then signed by Washington as an unrestricted free agent in 1999, and spent the next three seasons with the Redskins before landing in Jacksonville in 2002.
The 33-year-old is a native of Dayton, OH, and played collegiately at Georgia Tech.
Coleman is scheduled to arrive in Philadelphia on Saturday.
DE Derrick Burgess tore the Achilles tendon in his left leg in today?s practice and will miss the entire 2003 season. He will require surgery and will be placed on the Injured Reserve list.
"It's a shame, because he's worked so hard to get himself back,? said head coach Andy Reid of Burgess? injury. ?He's become such a big part of the team. He feels like he let the team down and that's obviously not the case. He gave it all he had. Just a bad thing happened and we just wish him the best of luck getting himself back."
Coleman (6-3, 270), a Pro Bowl selection in 2000 while with the Redskins, spent the 2003 training camp with Jacksonville after starting all 16 games for the Jaguars in 2002. He recorded five sacks and 54 tackles with Jacksonville last season. Coleman has recorded 61.5 sacks during stints with four different teams in 11 NFL seasons.
"We're bringing in a veteran player who has been very successful in the National Football League,? said Reid of agreeing to terms with Coleman. ?He's been one of the top defensive ends in the league for many years. He has a great relationship with some of the players on this team, and also with Tom Heckert (Vice President of Player Personnel who was with Miami when Coleman played there). He's a great person on top of all of his accomplishments on the field."
Said Reid when asked if Coleman would play this Monday night, ?We'll see how he is. He went through the whole preseason and played, so he's in football shape."
An extremely durable player, Coleman has missed just five games in his entire career. He has also started all but two of the 171 games he has appeared in. Originally, Coleman was selected by Miami with their second pick in the first round of the 1992 draft. The Dolphins used their first choice that year on current Eagles CB Troy Vincent. That season, Coleman went on to be named NFL Rookie of the Year by Sports Illustrated.
After spending four seasons in Miami, Coleman was signed by San Diego in 1996 as a transition free agent after the Dolphins did not match an offer sheet. He remained with the Chargers through the 1998 season. Coleman was then signed by Washington as an unrestricted free agent in 1999, and spent the next three seasons with the Redskins before landing in Jacksonville in 2002.
The 33-year-old is a native of Dayton, OH, and played collegiately at Georgia Tech.
Coleman is scheduled to arrive in Philadelphia on Saturday.
